Wire printing method and apparatus
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorsAkihito Otani, Kenji Hashimoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing apparatus is provided for precisely applying identifying indicia to wires connected with connectors without causing any displacement of position and orientation. The printing apparatus is provided with a palette 1 which is moved while being guided by slide rails 6, a wire receiving portion 2 on which wires 21 drawn from a connector 20 are placed, a wire correcting device 3, and a holder 4. The wire 21 fed to a marking section is pressed from above and is straightened in its longitudinal direction by the correcting device 3. The holder 4 holds the straightened wire 21 in the center of the marking section. In this state, printing is applied to the wire 21 by a laser marker 5.
Claims10
A wire printing method, comprising the steps of:
- feeding at least one wire connected with a connector to a marking section together with the connector, such that the wire is supported at least partly by a palette for conveyance,
- pulling the wire drawn from the connector substantially straight in the marking section and holding the wire in the marking section, and
- applying identifying indicia to the wire in this state by a printing device provided in proximity to the marking section.
A wire printing apparatus, comprising:
- a palette for holding a connector such that the connector can be fed in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of extension of at least one wire from the connector,
- a wire-receiving portion for receiving a portion of the at least one wire extending from the connector on the palette,
- a wire-correcting device in proximity to the wire receiving portion, the wire correcting device including an elevating mechanism moveable toward the wire receiving portion to press the wire in the wire receiving portion and an advancing mechanism moveable away from the palette for straightening the pressed wire,
- a holder in proximity to the wire receiving portion, the holder including a moving mechanism for holding the straightened wire, and
- a printing device in proximity to the holder for printing identifying indicia on the straightened wire held by the holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.